Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Social Eye Gaze

Social interactions are characterised by exchanges of a variety of social signals to communicate with other people. A key feature in real-life interactions is that we are in the presence of other people who can see us (audience), and we modulate our behaviour to send and receive signals (audience effect). Although social neuroscience research has traditionally examined how we respond to pictures and videos of humans, second-person neuroscience suggests that interactions with pre-recorded versus live people recruit distinct neurocognitive mechanisms. The aim of this thesis was to investigate which cognitive and neural mechanisms underlie changes in behaviour when being watched, particularly focusing on eye gaze, facial displays and prosocial behaviour as social signals. Using a novel ecologically valid paradigm, the first study showed that the opportunity to signal good reputation is a key modulator of eye gaze and prosocial behaviour. Using the same paradigm, the second study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that audience effects are mediated by an increase in self-referential processing. The third study focused on the time-course of eye gaze and facial displays patterns in relation to speech, both in typical and autistic individuals: contrary to what was expected both groups modulated eye gaze and facial displays according to the belief in being watched and speaker/listener role. Finally, the fourth study tested the role of reciprocity in live interactions: sharing information with a partner modulated eye gaze, facial displays, and brain activity in regions related to mentalising and decision-making. I discuss the theoretical implications of these findings and set out a cognitive model of gaze processing in live interactions. Finally, I outline directions for future research in social neuroscience

Estudi del contingut en valepotriats de diferents cultius de Valeriana wallichii D.C.

Tesi de Llicenciatura per a la obtenció del Grau de Farmàcia. Facultat de Farmàcia. Universitat de Barcelona. Director: Josep Iglesias Anglés. 1983

High performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) in the quality control of herbal products

Podeu consultar el llibre complet a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/128014The introduction of high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for quality control of herbal products, using standardised methodology and system suitability tests for the qualification of the plates, has improved reproducibility. The use of intensity markers implemented by the Ph. Eur. improved the description and interpretation of the chromatograms. Quantitative information can be retrieved from the electronic images of the chromatograms and used for comprehensive HPTLC fingerprinting: a single HPTLC analysis gives information on identity, purity and content of an herbal drug/preparation/product, simplifying the quality control

Evidencia clínica de STW 5 (Iberogast®) en patología digestiva

La dispepsia funcional (DF) y el síndrome del intestino irritable (SII) son las alteraciones gastrointestinales funcionales más frecuentes. Requieren un tratamiento multifactorial ya que su aparición se relaciona con diversas afecciones funcionales, como alteraciones de la motilidad, hipersensibilidad gastrointestinal, inflamación, alteración de la microbiota intestinal, estrés y trastornos psicológicos, entre otros. SWT 5 es una combinación de 9 extractos vegetales con actividades sinérgicas y complementarias que es capaz de modular la motilidad gástrica e intestinal, inhibe la secreción ácida gástrica, tiene actividad antiinflamatoria y protectora de la mucosa, y reduce la hipersensibilidad intestinal. Desde 1990, se ha demostrado una eficacia estadísticamente significativa en 6 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, a doble ciego y controlados: cinco en DF (4 frente a placebo y uno frende a cisaprida) y uno en SII (frente a placebo). La eficacia en DF y SII también se ha mostrado en estudios observacionales que involucran más de 5000 adultos y 44000 niños tratados con STW 5. La combinación de extractos presenta una excelente tolerabilidad y un buen perfil de seguridad, con una incidencia de efectos adversos muy baja. Palabras clave Dispepsia funcional, síndrome del intestino irritable, malestar digestivo, STW 5, Iberis amara, manzanilla común, angélica, alcaravea, cardo mariano, celidonia, melisa, menta piperita, regaliz

Ethnobotanical study of the sages used in traditional Valencian medicine and as essential oil: Characterization of an endemic Salvia and its contribution to local development

Set espècies de Salvia i dues de Phlomis, emprades en la medicina tradicional valenciana en preparats d’ús intern i extern per a tractar diferents malalties, han sigut estudiades. S’aporten noves dades etnobotàniques obtingudes mitjançant la realització d’entrevistes semiestructurades a trenta­quatre informants. Es presenta la caracterització estacional de l’oli essencial d’una sàlvia silvestre Salvia blancoana Webb & Heldr. subsp. mariolensis Figuerola, per GC­FID i GC­MS, com una eina per a assegurar un control de qualitat a les espècies endèmiques d’ús tradicional com aquesta, que eventualment són comercialitzades per indústries locals. La comparació del seu oli essencial amb el de la Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl subsp. lavandulifolia permet la seua comercialització sota el nom de sàlvia espanyola.Seven wild and cultivated Salvia species and two Phlomis species, used traditionally in Valencian medicine to treat a variety of external and internal ailments, were studied. New ethnobotanical data are provided, obtained from semistructured interviews with 34 people in the Valencian area. A seasonal characterization of the essential oil of a wild sage, Salvia blancoana Webb & Heldr. subsp. mariolensis Figuerola, by GC-FID and GC-MS was carried out as a means to ensure quality control of endemic traditional species such as this one, which has been commercialized by local industries. A comparison with the essential oil of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl subsp. lavandulifolia allowed inclusion of the wild sage within the commercial ‘Spanish sage’ oil.The authors are grateful to the Institute for Catalan Studies for financial support through the Borsa d’estudi Països CatalansEmeline Hahn acknowledges financial support from an ERASMUS Internship (FsTRASBO48).Ciencias Experimentale

Ethnopharmacological and Chemical Characterization of Salvia Species Used in Valencian Traditional Herbal Preparations

In Valencia Region (Spain), some wild and cultivated sages are used for medicinal purposes. Among them, Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia (SL) is widely employed and known for production of Spanish sage oil and herbal products. Nevertheless, it shares the market with S. blancoana subsp. mariolensis (SB) and, to a lesser extent, with their hybrid S. x hegelmaieri (SH). The knowledge on these two species is far low and confusion between them is possible. The aim of the present paper is to improve the ethnopharmacological, morphological and chemical knowledge of these sages, and to contribute to setting up quality specifications for improving identification and distinction from other Salvia species, such as, S. officinalis subsp. officinalis, S. x auriculata and S. microphylla var. microphylla. Samples were collected in Valencia Region and surrounding mountain areas during the ethnopharmacological field work. Twenty-nine medicinal uses were reported for SL, 13 of them being also recorded for SB. Of particular interest is a homemade liquor, used as digestive and known as “salvieta,” which is mainly prepared with SB. The macro- and microscopic characters are insufficient for identification of cut, crushed or powdered material. The study of the essential oil and a HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) fingerprint of their extracts could help to distinguish SB from the other sages. The essential oil from dried aerial parts of SB (content: 1.8–4.5%) was characterized by GC-FID (Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry) showing a composition close to that currently accepted for Spanish sage essential oil in the European Pharmacopoeia, ISO (International Standard Organization) and UNE (Una Norma Española) standards, with 1,8-cineole (13.7–45.7%) and camphor (12.1–28.6%) as major constituents. HPTLC methods, based on the analysis of hydroalcoholic and dichloromethane extracts, allowed to distinguish SB from other Salvia taxa currently found in Valencia region, except from its hybrid SH. This interdisciplinary study, that combines popular knowledge with botany and chemistry, allows to identify the raw herbal material from SB and to distinguish it from other Salvia species, ensuring a proper commercialization as herbal teas or for the preparation of spirits.This work had the financial support through the Borsa d'Estudi Països Catalans of the Institute for Catalan Studies to VM, and the financial support from an ERASMUS Internship (FsTRASBO48) to EH

Comportamiento al cultivo experimental en Aragón de Lippia alba para la normalización de la materia prima obtenida

Dentro de un amplio proyecto de normalización de productos naturales obtenidos de especies de la flora aromática latinoamericana, en el presente trabajo se presenta el estudio del comportamiento de los tres años iniciales de adaptación a cultivo de la especie Lippia alba (Fam. Verbenáceas), en diferentes condiciones agroclimáticas dentro la Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón. El material vegetal procedía de dos quimiotipos correspondientes a poblaciones de Uruguay y Costa Rica. La experimentación se realizó en parcelas de ensayo en Teruel y Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza, España). La respuesta de adaptación a las zonas ensayadas ha sido diferente para cada uno de los quimiotipos estudiados. Ninguno de los dos ha soportado las condiciones agroclimáticas de la zona de Teruel, mientras que en Ejea de los Caballeros solamente se ha adaptado el quimiotipo Uruguay. El factor limitante ha sido fundamentalmente las bajas temperaturas durante los meses de invierno. Se ha realizado un seguimiento para cada espécimen de planta en cada una de las fases del cultivo con tratamiento individualizado planta a planta con el fin de comprobar su grado de selección. La biomasa producida ha proporcionado muestras normalizadas para comprobar su respuesta en materia seca y aceite esencial. El aceite esencial se ha obtenido por dos diferentes métodos de extracción, hidrodestilación y con dióxido de carbono supercrítico. Asimismo, se ha efectuado la analítica de los extractos obtenidos de las plantas en estudio. Químicamente, se ha confirmado el mantenimiento de las características del quimiotipo adaptado al cultivo en Aragón

Use of Natural Polymers for the Encapsulation of Eugenol by Spray Drying

Background: Eugenol is a colourless or yellowish compound whose presence in clove essential oil surpasses the 75% of its composition. This phenylpropanoid, widely used as an antiseptic, anaesthetic and antioxidant, can be extracted by steam distillation from the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (L.). Due to its chemical instability in presence of light and air, it should be protected when developing a formulation to avoid or minimise its degradation. Methods: A promising approach would be encapsulation by spray drying, using natural coating products such as maltodextrin, gum arabic, and soy lecithin. To do so, a factorial design was carried out to evaluate the effect of five variables at two levels (inlet temperature, aspirator and flow rate, method of homogenisation of the emulsion and its eugenol:polymers ratio). Studied outcomes were yield and outlet temperature of the spray drying process, eugenol encapsulation efficiency, and particle size expressed as d(0.9). Results: The best three formulations were prepared by using a lower amount of eugenol than polymers (1:2 ratio), homogenised by Ultra-Turrax®, and pumped to the spray dryer at 35 m3/h. Inlet temperature and flow rate varied in the top three formulations, but their values in the best formulation (DF22) were 130°C and 4.5 mL/min. These microcapsules encapsulated between 47.37% and 65.69% of eugenol and were spray-dried achieving more than a 57.20% of product recovery. Their size, ranged from 22.40 μm to 55.60 μm. Conclusions: Overall, the whole spray drying process was optimised, and biodegradable stable polymeric microcapsules containing eugenol were successfully prepared